Last year, the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN) were outspoken about their dissatisfaction with the news that the CA$1 billion Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto was opening.
MSIFN has owned Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel in nearby Port Perry since 1997. It’s operated by Great Canadian Entertainment, the company that operates the new Toronto megacasino.
MSIFN leadership was of the opinion that Great Blue Heron Casino was having its market share chipped away. MSIFN chief Kelly LaRocca said they saw a lack of attention paid to their facility, which chief LaRocca said at the time lacked the “vibrancy” of the other facilities, especially the $1 billion Toronto casino, and that they were an afterthought.
The news today is that a new live-entertainment and special-events venue is opening at Great Blue Heron. The facility is located near Lake Scugog in Durham Region. The shiny new 12,637-square-foot venue has a total capacity of nearly 800 and will be available for live performances and concerts and corporate gatherings.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation took over management of Great Blue Heron Casino (GBH) from the First Nation in 2016. Ontario Gaming GTA LP, a partnership between Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (now Great Canadian Entertainment) and Brookfield Business Partners LP, took over operations and management rights of Great Blue Heron, as well as the OLG slots in Ajax and Woodbine, after that.
CDC Gaming reached out to Chief LaRocca for a comment, but we haven’t heard back from her yet, on their reaction to the new venue and projected impact on their business there.
Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel has a modern gaming floor with over 600 slot machines, 16 table games, 10 electronic tables game, and a poker room. The 116-room hotel is just steps away from the casino.
Said Stella Gallant, General Manager, Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel in a statement, “This new addition represents our commitment to delivering comprehensive entertainment and event experiences for our guests and providing yet another reason to visit this exciting property.”
